Earth anchor



May 28, 1935. A. B. CHANCE 2,002,628

EARTH ANCHOR Filed June 17, 1952 2 Sheets--SheeI l A. B. CHANCE 2,002,628

EARTH ANCHOR May v28, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .57 5j J7 26 lh Filed June 17, 1952 Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y EARTH ANCHOR Albert B. Chance, Centralia, Mo. Application June 17, 1932 serial No. 617,811

4 claims. (o1. 18s-9o) The present invention relates to earthanchors, and is particularly'concerned with earthanchors of the type shownlin my prior patent, No. 1,384,825, issued July 19, 1921, for Anchors.

The anchors of this type are installed by boring a hole at substantially right angles toy the line of load on the anchor rod member and installing the anchor rod member at right angles to said hole in such manner that lit projects lo into the anchor hole.

The anchor is then placed in interlocking engagement with the pointed head of the 'guy rod, and the anchor is in position to engage the earth at one side of the anchor hole when a pull is applied to the anchor rod, in

such manner that the pull is resisted by the undisturbed earth. This undisturbed earth is adapted to resist a pull much more effectively than loose earth which may be placed on top of an anchor, for the reason that the undisturbed earth interacts with a larger area of the earth in the space adjacent the earth which is immediately above the anchor.

The' effective area of "the earth against which the anchor acts is greatly increased when the anchor acts against L undisturbed earth.

The anchors of the type described'in said patent were provided with approximately cylindrical surfaces for engaging the wall of the hole for the reason that such holes are usually bored in a substantially cylindrical shape, but such was applied to the anchor rod, causing the anchor to move slightly through the earth.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision ing a greater to withstand greater loads on of an improved earth anchor havstrength by virtue of its shape and the arrangement of its parts andalso adapted the guy rod cable with a minimum weight of metal used in the manufacture of the anchor.

` Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved arrangement for the guy rod opening and or guiding the guy rod and anchor into interlocking engagement by virtue of which the assembly of 50Y upon the rod the rod and anchor plate is facilitated so that the anchor plate much more easily than could beV can be placed accomplished with the devices of the prior art.

. Another object of Y of an improved type of anchor the invention is the provision which has no tendency toward skidding, creeping wor tilting 5,1 under load.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of modied forms of earth anchors, each constructed of predetermined shape according to mathematical formula, and each having particular advantages with special types of loads, depending upon the particular shape of the anchor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, and from the accompanying drawings, in which l() similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the two sheets of drawings accompanying this description,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view taken on the l approximate plane of the guy rod, showing the guy rod and the anchor in elevation and the adjacent earth in section; l

, Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of one of the improved forms of earth anchor constructed according. to the present invention, the particular modication in question having substantially triangular side plates;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of 1ilig. 2, with a fragmentary por- 25 tion of a guy rod shown in several different positions to show the cooperation between the pointed head of the guy rod and the anchor plate;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of vthe anchor plate shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of another modication of anchor plate, showing a different peripheral shape which may befapplied to any of the modified forms of anchor plates described or shown herein;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of another modication of the anchor plate, having a curved surface of general conical form, the slope of the cone differing, however, in the direction of the length of the anchor plate from that of the direction of the width;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of another modiiication` showing a substantially parabolic anchor plate surface, and Fig. 7 may also be taken as illustrative of various other types`of mathematical curves which may be employed; and

`Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower end of one type of guy rod which may be employed with the lpresent anchor plates.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, I0 indicates in its entirety the guy rod which engages the `anchor plate II, disposed in the hole I2. The hole I2 is bored at approximately right angles to the direction of vpull upon the cable I3 and guy rod l0, 55

and the guy rod I5 is placed in a smaller hole bored at right angles to the hole I2, or the guy rod Ill is driven through the earth into the same position.

The guy rod I5 may consist of any of the guy rods shown in my prior patents, and it is preferably provided with an eye structure I4 of the type shown in my prior patents and adapted to withstand impact upon the end of the eye in the driving of the anchor into place.

Fig. l shows the anchor after the guy rod has been driven in and the anchor plate II placed upon it, but before the cable I3 has been pulled up to bring the anchor into rm engagement with the adjacent earth I5.

drawings of the anchor plate II. The anchor plate II is preferably substantially oblong in shape, that is, longer in the dimension L. than its width, which is indicated by the dimension W. The term oblong not only includes the rectangular shape where the anchor is longer than itis wide, but the substantially elliptical shape shown in Fig. 5.

Anchors of this type are preferably made in substantially this shape for the reason that they are thus adapted to be used in a hole I2 of smaller diameter than would be the case if the anchor were just as wide as it is long. In other words, the longer type of anchor is adapted to provide a greater area oi anchor plate than any other shape for the same size of hole I2.

The anchor plate is preferably provided with surfaces i5, Il and I8 which slope upward from three of its outer edges i9, 25 and 2l toward the point of attachment of the guy rod I G.

Where the anchor is uniformly curved from one side I6 across the other side I'I and IS, these surfaces gradually merge into each other and become a continuously curved surface, but in the pyramidal form of anchor, shown in Fig. 2, the anchor is provided with hips 22, 23, 24 and 25 extending from each of the corners 26 to 2S of the anchor plate. The corners 25-29 are preferably rounded oi, even in the rectangular form of anchor shown in Fig. 2, and in the elliptical type of anchor shown in Fig. 5 the corners are eliminated.

At the centerv of the anchor plate II, that is, the apex of the pyramid, cone, or curved surface of the anchor, it is preferably provided with an aperture 3i] for passing the head 3i of the guy rod and for receiving the body of the guy rod I.

Referring to Fig. 8, the guy rod Il) may consist of a substantially cylindrical rod I@ which is provided with a threaded lower end 32 adapted to be threaded into a complementary threaded bore 33 in the pointed head 3i. The head of the guy rod 3i comprises a substantially cylindrical metal member which is formed with a conical pointed end 34, a iiat upper surface 35, and a frustoconical surface 3S at its upper end. l

In some embodiments of the invention, the pointed head 3l may be an integral part of the guy rod I6, but the two separate parts have particular advantages, since the guy rod Iii may then be used for a number of other purposes. The guy rod I@ is firmly secured to the head' 3| by being driven home into the threaded bore 33 so that these two parts are Xedly secure-d together.

-In order that the aperture 3i! may pass the pointed head 3|, it is provided with an enlarged circular portion 3'! at a point slightly below the center of the anchor plate in Fig. 4, the circular portion 31 merging into a slot 38 having opposite parallel walls 39.

The parallel walls 39 communicate with a semicylindrical wall 40, which is of a size adapted to receive and engage the body of the guy rod I0, as shown in Fig. 3. The sides or main body of the anchor plate I I may be made relatively thin in View of the pyramidal, parabolic or approximate conical shape of the anchor plate. thereby saving metal over the devices ofthe prior art, but the anchorv is preferably provided with a thicker body at 4I about the aperture 30.

The body 4I may be formed with a socket 42 having walls 43, 44 on three of the sides of the socket 42 substantially complementary to the upper surfaces of the pointed head SI. The socket 42 is open at 45, its lower -end in Figs. 3 and 4 communicating with the guide space 46 that is lprovided at this end of the anchor for guiding the head of the anchor rodinto proper position.

Referring to Figs. 2l and 3, the anchor plateV I I is provided with -downwardly sloping surfaces 4'I at each side. The surfaces 4'! are substantially triangular in shape and vextend from the corners 28, 2S topoints 48', 49 in substantial alignment with the edge of the circular aperture 3l.

The iiat side wall 44 is join-ed to the surface 41 by an intermediate tapered surface 50 for guiding the guy rod into the aperture 30.

TheA triangular plates 4'! of the anchor II are each joined to a substantially flat triangular plate 5I which is disposed in the general plane of the edgesv i 9 2I of the anchor. The triangular plates 5I' are joined by triangular plates 52 at each side to a substantially flat and substantially trapezoidal flat surface 53 which extends outwar-d to the edge 54 of the anchor plate II from thev aperture 30.

The flat guide plate 53 is disposed substantially below .the plane of the edges I9-2I in order to provide a more positive guiding means for the guy rod head than has been provided in anchors of the prior art.

It will be noted that substantially the whole lower end of the anchor plate II is brought into play for the purpose of guiding the point of the guy rod into the proper position. Should the point of the guy rod accidentally hit any part of the lower end ofthe anchor plate between the corners 28, 29, it will be guided into proper position by the surfaces 47, 5I, 52 and 53. These guide surfaces from'a broad guide grOOVe which tapers in depth from the outer edge 54` of the anchor toward the socket 42, and as the head of the guy rod approaches more closely tothe socket, the eliect of the guiding surfaces becomes more pronounced. v

The present anchor plates are adapted to be placed `on the guy rods in the position of Fig. l with a minimum amount of effort, as it is not necessary to spot the anchor plate exactly out of the guy rod, but the anchor plate n-eed merely be shoved'into such a position that some part of its lower edge registers with the end of the guy rod.

The guy rod automatically guides the anchor plate into the proper position, and when the guy rod reaches the aperture the anchor plate is shoved up, on the guy rod. The anchor plate surfacel then comes into engagement with the cylindrical surface of the guy rod I and the plate'ispermitted to settle down so that th-e socket 4-2l surrounds-the pointedV head- 3 Il. Y

The anchor plates constructed according tothe present` invention are preferably provided with ing end plate Il by means of integral triangular plate formations 56, 51.

The fiat plate 55 is provided with an aperture 58, an upwardly projecting tapered lug 59, and a substantially V-shaped groove 60 adapted to engage an anchor placing tool or handle of the type shown in my prior patent.

Referring to Fig. 5, this is an anchor of general pyramidal form, including the views previously described in the substantially rectangular anchor plate of Fig. 2.

I have discovered that the substantially elliptical shape shown in Fig. also has important advantages in the saving of metal and that new and useful results may be accomplished over the prior art by providing an anchor of this shape. Any of the anchors described herein may be made elliptical in plan as well as rectangular.

Referring to Fig. 6, this is an anchor of substantially rectangular or elliptical shape, which embodies the features described with respect to Fig. 2, but is provided with a curved side surface El of approximate conical shape.

The side surface 6| curves uniformly from one slope 62 endwise to a different slope 63 sidewise. Since the distance from the side edge I9 to the apex 54 is less than the distance from the end edge to the apex 64 and the altitude is the same, the slope must necessarily be different.

Referring to Fig. 7, this is an illustration of a curved type of anchor embodying the features previously described with respect to the other figures, and the surface 65 lof the anchor plate may take the general form of a parabolic surface.

Other curves which may be utilized are curves corresponding to the sides of an ellipse, curves corresponding to a hyperbola, catenary curves, and cycloids.

One of the most important features of an anchor of this type is that the upper surface of the anchor should slope upward from both ends, according to the same law, and upward from both sides, according to the same law, so: as to provide a substantially uniformly tapered formation and to balance the forces exerted on both ends of the anchor and tending to tilt the anchor. It will be noted that the sloping surfaces of the ancho-r are at an acute angle to the edge or periphery and that the angle at the apex is an obtuse angle.

The difficulties caused by the tendency of the anchors of the prior art to creep and tilt are most pronounced when the anchor plate is not disposed in a hole at right angles to the guy rod, but rather at an acute angle. Under these circumstances there is a marked tendency of the anchors of the prior art to creep upward in the hole. This tendency is eliminated by anchors constructed according to the present invention, and the tendency toward tilting is also eliminated by the balancing of the forces, due to the tapered and sloping surfaces of the anchor plate.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved anchor which is adapted to eliminate some of the difficulties experienced with the anchors of the prior art. The present anchor is stronger and adapted to withstand more pull on the anchor rod than anchors constructed according to the prio-r art with the same amount of metal. The present anchors may, therefore, be constructed of the same strengthwith a saving` of. metal.` The present anchors ,are also adapted to be placed in interlocking engagement with the guy rods more easily than the anchors ofthe prior art. i.

` While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, butdesire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In an earth anchor, an anchor plate of substantially oblong shape in plan, said anchor plate being formed with a plurality of substantially triangular side plates joined together along hips and said anchor plate being formed with a centrally located aperture shaped to pass the head of a guy rod member and having a socket for receiving said head on the lower side of said plate, one of said triangular plates being formed with a flat surface disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the periphery of said anchor and having interlocking formations adapted to engage a removable handle for placing the an- Chor.

2. In an earth anchor, an anchor plate cornprising a substantially oblong metal member formed with a centrally located aperture having a socket below said aperture, said aperture being of a size adapted to receive a guy rod and said socket being of a size adapted to receive a guy rod head, said aperture having an enlargement adjacent said socket for passing said head, said anchor sloping from said centrally located socket whereby the forces exerted on said anchor by the earth are balanced on opposite sides of said guy rod and tilting of said anchor is prevented, said anchor having diverging guide `surfaces communicating with said aperture located at one end of said oblong anchor, said guide surfaces divergingto substantially a full width of the end of said anchor to facilitate the guiding of a guy rod head into interlocking engagement with said anchor.

3. In an earth anchor, an integral metal member of substantially elliptical outline, said member being provided with a pair of oppositely located at pyramidal sides joined to side portions located at each end and formed with an aperture in the center, said aperture having an enlargement for passing a head on a guy rod, one of said sides being formed with depending tapering flanges and with a fiat portion adapted to engage the head of the guy rod,.said flat portion being located below the plane of the opening in said anchor whereby the head of the guy rod may be guided by said flanges and flat portion into position and into engagement with the center of said anchor.

4. In an earth anchor, a metallic'member having three substantially flat sides joined in substantially pyramidal form and having ridges between said sides, one of said sides having at its end a substantially flat formation located in a plane substantially parallel to the base of the pyramidal metallic member, with diagonally upwardly extending flanges joining said lateral fiat portion to said sides, the fourth side of said substantially pyramidal member having downwardly extending tapering flanges joined to` inwardly eX- tending tapering flanges which carry second downwardly extending tapering flanges leading to a' flat portion located substantially in the 5 plane of the base of said substantially pyramidal member, said pyramidal member having a centrally located aperture with an enlargement at oneI eri-dior Vpassing the head of a guy rod, said aperture' fitting. about thel shank of said guy rod at itsopposite end; andvsaid member being formed with a socket for receiving and holding the head of'v said guy rod;`

. .f ALBERT B. CHANCE. 

